About St Joseph · Hills, Iowa
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hills, Iowa is a small rural parish of the Diocese of Davenport, one of three clustered parishes (Sts. Mary and Joseph) that together serve the communities of Hills, Lone Tree, and Nichols in Johnson and Muscatine Counties. The parish was founded in 1903 when the church was built, with a rectory, school, barn and convent added by 1909. Today it is part of a three-parish cluster led by Parochial Administrator Father David Paintsil and Pastoral Associate Mrs. Carol Kaalberg, offering Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. in Hills. The community maintains a sister-parish relationship with Our Lady of Lourdes in Zorange, Haiti, and supports the work of ServeHaiti at the St. Vincent de Paul Clinic.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father David Paintsil (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Joseph in Hills offers a tight-knit rural Catholic community with Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m., Sunday confession before Mass, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration with confessions. Faith Formation for grades 1-8, an OCIA (RCIA) inquiry process, and youth ministry service opportunities are coordinated across the three-parish cluster. The parish also has a meaningful global outreach through its sister-parish relationship with Our Lady of Lourdes in Zorange, Haiti, and the work of ServeHaiti — making it a small church with both local roots and international mission.
Mass times at St Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, Hills (before 10:00 a.m. Mass)
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. at St. Mary Church, Lone Tree (cluster)
- Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 7:50 a.m. at St. Mary Church, Nichols (cluster)
- During Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph, Hills
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday evenings, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph, Hills (with confessions available)
About the Sts. Mary and Joseph Cluster
St. Joseph in Hills is one of three parishes that together form the Sts. Mary and Joseph Cluster Parishes of the Diocese of Davenport. The cluster brings together St. Joseph in Hills (founded 1903), St. Mary in Lone Tree (founded 1874) and St. Mary in Nichols Station (founded 1874, rebuilt after a 1920 fire) into a single pastoral community. The cluster offices are located at 209 Brady Street in Hills, and the mission statement of the cluster is: 'We at St. Mary & Joseph Parishes strive for a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ through Scripture and Sacraments, in order to form missionary disciples and send them forth to transform the world.'
- St. Joseph, Hills — Mass Sundays 10:00 a.m. at 209 Brady Street
- St. Mary, Lone Tree — Mass Saturdays 4:00 p.m. at 216 W. Jayne Street, Lone Tree, IA 52755
- St. Mary, Nichols — Mass Sundays 8:00 a.m. at 201 Short Street, Nichols, IA 52766
- Cluster office: 209 Brady Street, PO Box 187, Hills, IA 52235-0187
History of St. Joseph, Hills
The Catholic presence in the Hills area predates the present church. St. Stanislaus Church was built in 1853 just west of Hills and served as the area's first Catholic church; after restoration it is now used for Memorial Day Masses at the St. Stanislaus Cemetery. The current St. Joseph Church was built in 1903, and by 1909 a rectory, a school, a barn and a convent had all been added. The parish remained independent for over a century before joining the cluster with St. Mary, Lone Tree and St. Mary, Nichols in August 2010.
- 1853 — St. Stanislaus Church built west of Hills (predecessor church)
- 1903 — St. Joseph Church built in Hills
- 1909 — Rectory, school, barn and convent added
- August 2010 — St. Joseph added to the three-parish cluster; Father Bill Kneemiller becomes first cluster pastor
Cluster Pastoral Leadership
The cluster has been served by a succession of pastors since 2010, with a Pastoral Associate providing continuity. Mrs. Carol Kaalberg, who served as the first parish life coordinator in the Diocese of Davenport beginning in 1989, has been central to the cluster's pastoral coordination. Father David Paintsil was appointed Parochial Administrator on July 1, 2024, succeeding Father Hai Dinh, who succeeded Father Michael Spiekermeier, who succeeded the first cluster pastor Father Bill Kneemiller. Retired Father Lou Leonhardt continues to assist with ministry in the three-parish cluster.
- Father David Paintsil — Parochial Administrator (since July 1, 2024)
- Mrs. Carol Kaalberg — Pastoral Associate / Cluster Coordinator
- Father Hai Dinh — Pastor July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2024
- Father Michael Spiekermeier — Pastor 2012 – retired June 30, 2021
- Father Bill Kneemiller — first cluster pastor, August 2010
- Father Lou Leonhardt — retired priest assisting in cluster ministry
Mass and Sacraments
St. Joseph in Hills celebrates Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m., with the wider cluster also offering Mass at 4:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary, Lone Tree, and 8:00 a.m. Sunday at St. Mary, Nichols. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered at all three parishes before their respective Masses, and confessions are also heard during the weekly Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration hour at St. Joseph, Hills.
- Sunday Mass — 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph, Hills
- Confession — Sunday 9:30-9:50 a.m. at St. Joseph, Hills
- Confession — Wednesday 6:00-7:00 p.m. during Adoration at St. Joseph, Hills
- Cluster Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:00 p.m. at St. Mary, Lone Tree
- Cluster Sunday Mass — 8:00 a.m. at St. Mary, Nichols
Faith Formation and OCIA
Religious education for grades 1-8 is coordinated cluster-wide by Mrs. Nancy Waldschmidt, Director of Faith Formation. Classes began in the 2024-2025 program year on Saturday, September 21 at St. Mary, Lone Tree and Sunday, September 22 at St. Joseph, Hills. The program prepares students for First Communion (Grade 2) and Confirmation (Grades 7-8). Adults seeking to learn more about the Catholic Church are invited to OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) inquiry classes each September, coordinated with Father David Paintsil and Carol Kaalberg.
- Mrs. Nancy Waldschmidt — Director of Faith Formation (319-331-2077, [email protected])
- Grades 1-6 Religious Education classes
- Grade 2 — First Communion preparation
- Grades 7-8 — Confirmation preparation
- OCIA (RCIA) Inquiry classes for adults beginning each September
Youth Ministry and Service
The cluster's youth ministry page encourages young parishioners to serve locally, nationally and globally. Ideas promoted include the United Way of Johnson County Volunteer Center, Catholic Relief Services (CRS.org), the Iowa City Catholic Worker House, the Johnson County Crisis Center, and the 1105 Project. Youth are invited to contact Father Hai or Carol Kaalberg about service needs in their home parish.
- United Way of Johnson County Volunteer Center
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
- Iowa City Catholic Worker House
- Johnson County Crisis Center
- 1105 Project
Haiti Sister-Parish Mission
The cluster maintains a long-standing sister-parish relationship with Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Zorange, Haiti. For several years, lay volunteers from the cluster have traveled to Haiti to work with ServeHaiti in their medical and educational mission at the St. Vincent de Paul Clinic in Grand Bois. Cluster ladies have sewn clothing for Haitian children and the cluster funded a well to serve the community's water needs. The sister community is kept in the regular prayers of the cluster.
- Sister parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Zorange, Haiti
- Partner: ServeHaiti
- Mission site: St. Vincent de Paul Clinic, Grand Bois, Haiti
- Cluster sewing projects for Haitian children
- Cluster-funded well project for Zorange
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the cluster through the parish office at 209 Brady Street, PO Box 187, Hills, IA 52235-0187, or by phone at 319-679-2271. Father David Paintsil can be emailed at [email protected]; Pastoral Associate Mrs. Carol Kaalberg can be reached at 319-723-4204 (home), 319-330-5324 (cell), or [email protected]. Maps to all three cluster parishes are available on the parish website.
- Parish office phone: 319-679-2271
- Father David Paintsil — [email protected]
- Carol Kaalberg — [email protected], 319-330-5324
- Address: 209 Brady Street, PO Box 187, Hills, IA 52235-0187
- Cluster website: https://www.stsmaryjoseph.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Bill Kneemiller2010-2012
First pastor of the three-parish Sts. Mary and Joseph Cluster when Hills was added in August 2010.
- Father Michael Spiekermeier2012-2021
Became pastor in 2012; retired from priest ministry on June 30, 2021.
- Father Hai Dinh2021-2024
Became pastor of the cluster community on July 1, 2021.
- Father David Paintsil2024-present
Appointed Parochial Administrator of the cluster effective July 1, 2024.